Cable cutter



R. TEMPLE CABLE CUTTER Nov. 23, 1948.

ori inal Filed Feb. 11, 194

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6' r TORNE Y VQITNESSES Patented Nov. 23, 1 948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Robert Temple, Swissvale, Pa, assi-gnor to Tem= ple Velocity Equipment, Inc., Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Original application February 11, 1944, Serial No. 522,022, now Patent No. 2,411,909, December 3, 194.6. Divided and this application September 5, 1946, Serial No. 694,973

8 Claims.

1 Thisinvention relates to explosively actuated tools for cutting cables and the like, and more particularly to such tools which are fired by manually operable means. This invention is a division of the invention disclosed in my copending patent application, Serial Number 522,022, for cable cutter filed February 11, 1944, now Patent No. 2,411,909,'granted December 3, 1946.

When invasion boats attempt to land at foreign beaches, they sometimes are stopped by nets, cables, rods, and the like placed in the water oil shore'by the enemy. Of course, these obstructions have to be removed before the boats can proceed, but it is a long and difiiculttask to cut the submerged nets and cables with ordinary cutting tools. There also are many other places where it would be desirable to have available an easily manipulated and operated cable cutting tool.

It is among the objectsof this invention to provide a cable cutting tool which is explosively actuated, which can be operated under water by a man in a boat, which can be fired more than once without reloading, and which is easy to handle and operate.

These and other objects are attained by connecting a frame to one end of a long handle and providing one side of the frame with a recess for receiving a cable, rod, orthe like, all of which will be referred to herein as cables. A chamber block is mounted in the frame behind its cablereceivin-g recess and is provided with a, plurality of forwardly opening chambers. block is movable transversely of the frame to a plurality of difierent predetermined positions ineach of which one of its chambers opens into Each of these chambers the back of the recess. contains a projectile-like cable cutting member slidably mounted therein. The chamber block is is provided for swinging the opposite end of the cocking lever rearwardly to retract the firing pin which, upon release of the cocking lever, is driverr forward by the spring to explode the cartridge. The force of the explosion drives the cutting member across the recess and thereby severs any cable heldtherein. Preferably, the r cocking lever actuating means consists of a The chamber slidably mounted element normally disposedfsin front of the free end of the cocking lever, and a line attached to this element and extending out to the outer end of the handle. When thisline is pulled it'causes the cocking lever actuating elementto swing the cocking lever back until the element slips over the end of the cocking lever and thereby releases it. The chamber block may be in the form of a block which is held ineach of its different positions by manuallyreleasable means connected to the frame.

The preferred embodiment of .the-inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view of my cable cutter with the frame and chamber block shown in section; Fig. 2 is another side view of the cutter turned from Fig. 1 and showing the firing mechanism. in section; Fig-3 is afront end View of the cutter; Fig. 4: is a transverse section taken. on the line IV--IV of Fig. 2 with the cartridges removed; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line.V-V of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, an integral blocklike metal frame I. is provided in one side near its front end with an inwardly extending recess 2 adapted to receive and hook onto a cable. .Behind this recess. and spaced therefrom the frame is provided with a rectangular slot 3 that extends entirely through the frame'from its recessed side.

. Fitting snugly but slidably in this slot, is a blocklike chamber block 4 provided with a pair of forwardly opening elongated chambers 6 and l. The frame has. a barrel 8 connecting the back of the recess with the. front of one of the chamber" block chambers with which the recess is'axially aligned when the chamber block is correctly positioned behind it. Thebarrel has substantially the same diameter as the chambers. The portion of the. framein front of recess 2 is provided with a bore in axial alignment with passage 8 and containing a cutting block l-il that is'backed up by a nut ll screwed into the front end of thebore! The cutting block is provided with a central passage-"l2 concentric with the frame .bore and of substantially the same diameter as barrel 8 at the other side of the recess.

slidably mounted in each chamber block chamber is a projectile-like cable cutting member 16 provided. in its'fr'on-t end with a transverse groove in which ashearpin l t-is disposed. The shear pins project beyond? the cutting members and into a counterbore l8 in" the: front of the chamber block. The front wall of slot 3 helps to hold the shear pins in: place. 'In ordertoexpel the cutting members from the chamber block the latter'i's provided behind each of its chambers with a bore 23 in which an explosive cartridge 2| is inserted. When the chamber block is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the cartridge behind chamber 6 is directly in front of a firing pin 22 slidably mounted in an axial passage 23 in an elongated breech member 24 that is screwed into a threaded socket in the rear end of the frame. The point of the pin projects into a short bore that connects passage 23 with frame slot 3.

In accordance with this invention, the firing pin has an enlarged central portion between the front end of which and the frame there is a light coil spring 26 that normally keeps the point of the pin spaced 2. short distance from the chamber block. At the opposite end from the firing pin there is a, heavier coil spring 21 which normally does not exert any pressure against the pin. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the central portion of the pin has a transverse slot 28 through it which L may have an open side, and the breech member is provided with a, pair of longitudinally extending slots 30 and 3| that register with the opposite ends of the pin slot. Loosely disposed in the pin slot is a cocking lever 32 which projects into the breech member slots. One end of this cocking lever is pivotally mounted in slot 3i on a pin 33 extending through the breech member. When the firing pin is in normal position the cocking lever leans toward the front of the tool, as shown in Fig. 2, and the pin may be releasably locked in this position by means of a removable safety key 34 extending through transverse openings in the breech member and the firing pin.

The free end of the cooking lever projects a slight distance from slot 30, and its front surface is engaged by an actuating element 36 in the form of a small block which is slidable along a flattened area on the breech member. As shown in Fig. 5, this element has lateral projections which extend into guiding grooves in the breech member to hold the element in place. The element is inserted in these grooves from their rear ends, and then is prevented from escaping from them by means of a screw 31 attached to the breech member. Attached to the cocking lever actuating element is a flexible line 38, such as a wire or cord, which extends rearwardly along a pole-like handle 39 the front end of which is rigidly mounted in a socket in the back end of the breech member. The outer end of line 38 can be slidably attached to the handle by a screw eye 40 through which the line extends. A pull ring 4 l is fastened to the end of the line.

When the chamber block is loaded and in the position shown in the drawings, if the pull ring is pulled, the cooking lever actuating element 36 will be drawn back along the breech member and will thereby swing the adjoining end of the cooking lever away from the frame. This movement of the cocking lever draws the firing pin back in breech member passage 23 against the resistance of rear spring 21. After the actuating element has moved a predetermined distance it slides across the adjoining end of the cocking lever and thereby releases it. Immediately the compressed rear-spring drives the firing pin ahead and causes it to strike and detonate the cartridge 2| in front of it. The force of the explosion builds up behind the cutting member in front of it until it is sufiicient to cause the cutting member to shear off the adjoining shear pin H, whereupon the cutting member shoots forward out of the chamber block across the cable-receiving recess 2, and out of the frame through the passage tridge from falling out.

4 l2 in cutting block ID. A section of the cable caught in recess 2 at the time is cut from the cable by the cutting member and driven by it out through the front end of the frame.

The cooking lever actuating element is then moved forward by hand until it slips across the end of the cocking lever and is once more disposed in front of it. Spring 26 permits the firing pin to move forward far enough for element 36 to slip across the cooking lever, and then the spring retracts the pin just enough to cause the cocking lever to engage the back side of the element. The tool is made ready for firing again by moving the chamber block in frame slot 3 until chamber 1 containing the other cutting member registers with frame 8 directly behind the cable-receiving recess. The firing mechanism can then be actuated again in the same way as before to fire the second cutting member across the recess and out of the frame. It is then necessary to reload the chamber block before the tool can be used again.

To hold the chamber block in the frame and yet permit it to be moved to its different firing and reloading positions, one side of the chamber block is provided with three small depressions or sockets 45, 46, and 4'! arranged in a straight line extending in the direction of movement of the chamber block. Beside this line of sockets the frame is provided with a central transverse opening the inner portion of which is larger than the outer portion. Slidably mounted in the enlarged portion of this opening is a spring-pressed plug 48 having a stem extending out of the opening and provided with a knob 49 outside of the frame; This plug is adapted to project into Whichever socket happens to be located beside it at the time, and to thereby releasably lock the chamber block in that position. The sockets are so positioned that when the plug is in center socket 46, the chamber block chamber 6 registers with frame barrel 8, and the other chamber block chamber is located far enough inside the frame to prevent the cutting member and adjoining car- After the first cutting member has been shot from the frame, plug 48 is pulled out far enough to permit the chamber block to be moved in frame slot 3 until the plug seats in rear socket 41. Chamber 1 is then behind the cable-receiving recess while empty chamber 6 is outside of the frame where it can be reloaded after the second cutting member has been discharged from the chamber block. To reload chamber 1 the chamber block is moved back through the frame until plug 48 projects into socket 45. In this position chamber 1 is disposed outside of the frame where it too can be reloaded. Of course, the cartridges are replaced at the same time.

To prevent the chamber block from accidentally sliding out of the frame, the side of the chamber block opposite the positioning sockets is provided with a groove 5! extending lengthwise of slot 3 and slidably receiving the reduced inner end of a stop screw 52 that is mounted in the side of the frame, all as shown in Fig. 4. The overall movement of the chamber block is thus limited by engagement of the opposite end walls of this groove with the stop screw.

It will be seen that a man standing in the front of an invasion barge, for example, can hold this tool with its cutting end several feet under water. When he hooks the frame onto a submerged cable he can readily sever the cable by merely pulling on ring 4|. Then, without taking time ante-see to reloade' 'the tool, .the chamber :blockcan be quickly shifted and another cable cut. This. greatly increases the rate at :which such cables can be cut, andtit' all ;is done withouttoo much effort on'thepart. of the operator andzwithout his getting intozthe water; 'Qfcourse, this tool can also. be. used effectively out: of water forcutting rods and'cables. .In. emergencies it. canevenbe used; as a gun;becausetthe;cutting elements make efiective :projectiles that. can becfiredtaconsiderable distance i when there is nothing in the cut-.- ting recess.

:In'the; following claims; this tQQl'hQi-Sibflfilli'lfiferred to. as a. cable cutting tool :to: simplify the terminology, butsit; is to-ibe.understoodthatthe word cable is to be construedbroadlyto .include irods, pipes, and any other objects that can be received and severed in the cutting recess.

utes, I have explained the principle and construction of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may-be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

1. In a cable cutterprovi'ded with a barrel and a cablecutting member-slidably mounted; at the, rear endof; the barrelimeansufor suppcrting'a explosive charge behind the cutting member, a firing pin for exploding the charge to drive the cutting member through the barrel, a spring for causing an inertia effect on the pin to throw it forward to said means, a cocking lever extending transversely of the firing pin and operably connected to it, means for pivotally supporting one end of said lever besid said pin, and manually operable means for engaging the opposite end of the cocking lever and swinging it rearwardly to retract the firing pin, whereby upon release of the retracted lever said spring will move the firing pin forward to explode said charge.

2. In a cable cutter provided with a barrel and a cable cutting member slidably mounted at the rear end of the barrel, means for supporting an explosive charge behind the cutting member, a firing pin for exploding the charge to drive the cutting member through the barrel, a spring for urging the pin forward toward said means, a

forward to explode said charge.

3. In a cable cutter provided with a barrel and a cable cutting member slidably mounted at the rear end of the barrel, means for supporting an explosive charge behind the cutting member, a firing pin for exploding the charge to drive the cutting member through the barrel, a spring for urging the pin forward toward said means, a cocking lever extending transversely of the firing pin and operably connected to it, means for pivotally supporting one end of said lever beside said pin, a lever-actuating element disposed in front of the opposite end of the lever, and means for According-to theprovisions of thepatentstat- 6 moving said element rearwardly 'to swing the lever rearwardly, said element sliding across the adjoining :end of the lever after it has been moved a predetermined distance to thereby release the lever, whereupon said spring moves the firing pinforward to'explode said charge.

4. In a cable cutter provided with a barrel and a cable cutting member slidably mounted at the rear end of thebarrel, means for supporting an explosive charge behind the cutting member, a firing pin for exploding the charge to drive the cutting memberthrough the barrel, a spring for urging the pin forward toward said means, said pin being provided .with a transverse slot, a cocking lever loosely disposed in said slot and projecting from'the opposite sides of the pin, means for pivotally supporting one end of said lever beside said pin, andmanually operable. meansfor swinging the. opposite end of the lever rearwardly to retract the firing pin, whereby upon release of the retracted lever said spring moves the firing pin forward to explode said charge.

5.. In a cable cutter provided with a barrel and a cable cutting member slidably mounted at the rear endof the barrel, means for supporting an explosive charge behind the cutting member, a firing pin for exploding the charge todrive the cutting member through the barrel, av spring for urging the pin forward toward said means, a cocking lever. extending; transversely of the firing pin. and; operably connected to it, means: for pivotally supporting one end of said lever beside said pin, a lever-actuating element disposed in front of the opposite end of the lever, an elongated handle connected to the rear end of the frame, and a line attached to said element and extending rearwardly along said handle for pulling said element back in order to swing the lever rearwardly, said element sliding across the adjoinin end of the lever after it has been moved a predetermined distance to thereby release the lever, whereupon said spring moves the firing pin forward to explode said charge.

6. In a cable cutter provided with a barrel and a cable cutting member slidably mounted at the rear end of the barrel, means for supporting an explosive charge behind the cutting member, a breech member behind said means, a firing pin slidably mounted in said member, a spring for urging the pin forward for exploding said charge to drive the cutting member through the barrel, said pin being provided with a transverse slot, said breech member being provided with a pair of slots registering with said pin slot, a cocking lever loosely disposed in the pin slot and having one end projecting into one of the slots in the breech member, means pivotally connecting said projecting end of the lever to said member, the opposite end of the lever extending through the other slot in the breech member and projecting therefrom, and manually operable means slidable along the breech member for swinging said projecting end of the lever rearwardly to retract the firing pin, said lever-swinging means being adapted to automatically release the lever after it has been swung a predetermined distance, whereupon said spring drives the firing pin forward.

7. In a cable cutter provided with a barrel and a cable cutting member slidably mounted at the rear end of the barrel, means for supporting an explosive charge behind the cutting member, a firing pin for exploding the charge to drive the cutting member through the barrel, 2; spring for urging the pin forward toward said means, .a cocking lever extending transversely of the firing pin and operably connected to it, the ends of the lever projecting from opposite sidesof the pin, means pivotally supporting one end ofsaid lever beside the pin, a slide element normally disposed in front of the opposite end of the lever, means forming a rearwardly extending track for said element, and a line attached to said element and adapted to be pulled to draw the slide element back along said track in order to swing the lever rearwardly, said element sliding across the ad-. joining end of the lever after it has been moved a predetermined distance to thereby release the lever, whereupon said spring moves the firing pin forward to explode said charge.

8. In a cable cutter provided with a barrel and a cable cutting member slidably mounted at the rear end of the barrel, means for supporting an explosive charge behind the cutting member, a breech member behind said means, a firing pin slidably mounted in said member, a spring for urging the pin forward for exploding said charge to drive the cutting member through the barrel, said pin being provided with a transverse slot, said breech member being provided with a pair of slots registering with said pin slot, a cocking lever loosely disposed in the pin slot and having one end projecting into one of the slots in the breech member, means pivotally connecting said projecting end of the lever to said member, the

30 Number '8 opposite end of the lever extending through the vother slot in the breech member and projecting therefrom, said breech member being provided with a trackway extending along said other slot, a slide element slidably connected to said trackway and normally disposed in front of said opposite end of the lever, and a line attached to said element and extending rearwardly therefrom, said line being adapted to be pulled to draw the slide element rearwardly along the trackway in order to swing the lever backwardly, said element sliding across the adjoining end of the lever after it has been moved a predetermined distance to thereby release the lever, whereupon said spring moves the-firing pin forward to explode said charge.

ROBERT TEMPLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Miller June 27, 1933 R. Temple Jr Oct. 18, 1933 R. Temple Jr Dec. 13, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Oct. 5, 1939 Number 

